U.S. patent application number 17/423460 was filed with the patent office on 2022-03-17 for method and system for collecting machine data.
This patent application is currently assigned to Technische Hochschule Deggendorf. The applicant listed for this patent is Technische Hochschule Deggendorf. Invention is credited to Ilja FUCHS, Andreas GRZEMBA, Florian SCHWEIGER.
Application Number | 20220083021 17/423460 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220083021 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCHWEIGER; Florian ; et
al. |
March 17, 2022 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING MACHINE DATA
Abstract
A method for collecting machine data from a machine comprising
the following steps: collecting image information displayed on a
graphical user interface of a machine and transmitting the
collected information to a computer unit; masking the collected
information or information derived therefrom to define data
regions; extracting alphanumeric characters from at least one data
region by means of a text recognition program; writing the
alphanumeric characters into a data structure; and storing or
outputting the data structure.
Inventors: |
SCHWEIGER; Florian; (Roding,
DE) ; FUCHS; Ilja; (Hunderdorf, DE) ; GRZEMBA;
Andreas; (Deggendorf, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Technische Hochschule Deggendorf |
Deggendorf |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Technische Hochschule
Deggendorf
Deggendorf
DE
|
Appl. No.: |
17/423460 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2020 |
PCT Filed: |
January 9, 2020 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2020/050372 |
371 Date: |
July 15, 2021 |
International
Class: |
G05B 19/406 20060101
G05B019/406 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 17, 2019 |
DE |
10 2019 101 132.9 |
Claims
1. A method for collecting machine data from a machine, comprising
the following steps: collecting image information displayed on a
graphical user interface of a machine and transmitting the
collected information to a computer unit; masking the collected
information or information derived therefrom to define data
regions; extracting alphanumeric characters from at least one data
region by means of a text recognition program; writing the
alphanumeric characters into a data structure; and storing or
outputting the data structure wherein the image information is
periodically collected at different points in time, alphanumeric
characters are periodically extracted and the extracted characters
are written into the data structure, so that the collected
information contains information about the temporal change in the
image information.
2. (canceled)
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image information
is collected by sampling with a predetermined sampling
frequency.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collection of the
image information comprises acquiring the image information
displayed on the graphical user interface by means of a camera.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collection of the
image information comprises the collection of the electrical image
information signals transmitted between a graphical output
interface and the graphical user interface.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collected
information or information derived therefrom is processed before
the extraction of alphanumeric characters by means of at least one
image processing program.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the processing
comprises filtering and/or a contrast change, in particular a color
contrast change.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after the text
recognition, the collected information is verified in a
verification step.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein during the verification
of the collected information it is determined whether the values of
temporally successively collected information change more than a
predetermined change threshold value.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein on the basis of the
verification step it is determined whether there is a change in the
extracted alphanumeric characters when image processing parameters
are changed.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of data
sets are stored for the collection of machine data from different
machine types, each data set being assigned to one or more machine
types, and each data set comprising information for masking the
collected information, for filtering the collected information, for
the font and/or for the font size.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of
different pages each having different image information can be
displayed on the graphical user interface, and in that switching
between the pages takes place in order to collect the image
information of the different pages.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein graphic sections or
image components are extracted from the image information and
stored in the data structure.
14. A system for collecting machine data, comprising: a collection
unit , by means of which image information displayed on a graphical
user interface of a machine can be collected; a computer unit,
which is coupled to the collection unit and which is designed to
receive the information collected by the collection unit ; wherein
the computer unit is designed to mask the collected information or
information derived therefrom to define data regions, to extract
alphanumeric characters from at least one data region by means of a
text recognition program, and to write the extracted alphanumeric
characters into a data structure or to output the extracted
alphanumeric characters into a data stream, wherein the computer
unit is designed to periodically collect the image information at
different points in time, periodically extract alphanumeric
characters and write the extracted characters into the data
structure, so that the collected information contains information
about the temporal change in the image information.
15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the computer unit
comprises one or more data input interfaces, via which the computer
unit can be coupled to one or more collection units.
16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the computer unit
comprises one or more data output interfaces, via which a data
structure containing alphanumeric characters or a data stream of
alphanumeric characters is output.
17. The system according to claim 15, wherein each data input
interface and each data output interface is assigned to one machine
each.
18. The system according to claim 14, wherein the computer unit
comprises at least one switching interface for providing a
switching signal by means of which switching between pages of the
graphical user interface of a machine takes place.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a method and a system for
collecting machine data.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The machinery of companies is often inhomogeneous, i.e.
comprises machines of different manufacturers and/or types. In
addition, the machines often have different ages, so that wide
technological differences exist among the machine technology, in
particular the control technology, of the individual machines.
[0003] Due to this inhomogeneity of the machinery, it is often not
possible to integrate machines into a fully automated process
monitoring system since this would require current machine data or
process data to be read out from the machines, but these machines
do not have the necessary interfaces for outputting the machine
data and/or process data.
SUMMARY
[0004] Based on this, an object of the present disclosure is to
provide a method for collecting machine data, which allows a
technically simple and reliable collection of machine and/or
process data for different types of machines and/or different
machine control systems.
[0005] This object is achieved by an embodiment disclosed herein. A
system for collecting machine data is the subject matter of an
embodiment disclosed herein.
[0006] According to a first aspect, the present disclosure relates
to a method for collecting machine data from a machine. This method
comprises the following steps:
[0007] The image information displayed on a graphical user
interface of a machine is initially collected. In this context,
"collection of image information" is understood to mean that this
information is optically detected or collected on the graphical
user interface by a suitable image-acquiring unit or that
electrical signals are collected which contain image information
and are transmitted, for example, between the machine and its
graphical user interface. This collected information is transmitted
to a computer unit in order to further process this information in
a suitable manner.
[0008] Subsequently, the collected information or information
derived therefrom is masked to define data regions. "Information
derived therefrom" here means information that was obtained from
the collected information by further information technology
processing. Masking can be carried out, for example, on the basis
of a data mask indicating at which local position on the graphical
user interface or at which position in the collected information or
information derived therefrom which data can be collected.
[0009] Thereafter, alphanumeric characters are extracted from at
least one data region by a text recognition program. In this
context, "extracted" means that the collected image information in
at least one data region is analyzed by means of a text recognition
program and the information recognized in this data region is
converted into one or more letters and/or numbers. This can be
done, for example, by means of OCR recognition (OCR: optical
character recognition).
[0010] Finally, the extracted alphanumeric characters are written
into a data structure. The data structure can be any structure or
any data set into which the extracted alphanumeric characters can
be inserted. Finally, the data structure is stored or output.
[0011] In addition, it should be noted that the present disclosure
is not limited to an exclusive extraction of alphanumeric
characters. It is rather also possible to extract graphic sections
and/or image components from the image information and store them
in the data structure. This offers the possibility, for example, of
checking the correctness of the current production program at a
monitoring point by visualizing the 3D model present at the
system.
[0012] The major advantage of the method according to the present
disclosure is that information which is displayed on the graphical
user interface is used to collect machine data and store it in a
data structure for further processing it at a later stage, e.g. in
the form of automatic process monitoring and/or process analysis.
It is thus possible to collect and further process the process data
from machines of the most different types in an automatic way and
in a technically simple and reliable manner.
[0013] According to an exemplary embodiment, the image information
is collected periodically at different points in time, so that the
collected information contains information about the temporal
change of the image information. Periodic extraction of
alphanumeric characters and writing of the extracted characters
into the data structure are carried out in the same way. It is thus
possible to infer the temporal change of the machine data from the
time-dependent course of the collected information.
[0014] According to one exemplary embodiment, the image information
is collected by sampling with a predetermined sampling frequency.
This allows machine data to be periodically collected and written
into the data structure.
[0015] According to one exemplary embodiment, the collection of the
image information includes capturing the image information
displayed on the graphical user interface by means of a camera. The
camera can be used to convert the image information displayed on
the graphical user interface into electrical signals and transmit
them to the computer unit for further processing by the computer
unit.
[0016] According to one exemplary embodiment, the collection of the
image information comprises collecting the electrical image
information signals transmitted between a graphical output
interface of the machine and the graphical user interface. For
example, a signal splitter having an input interface and a
plurality of output interfaces can be introduced into the cable
connection between the graphical output interface and the graphical
user interface, one output interface being connected to the
graphical user interface and another output interface being
connected to the computer unit. The image information signals can
be e.g. VGA signals, DVI signals, DisplayPort signals, or HDMI
signals. This allows the image information signals transmitted
directly to the graphical user interface to be further processed by
the computer unit, which offers advantages in terms of collection
quality and collection reliability.
[0017] According to one exemplary embodiment, the collected
information or information derived therefrom is processed by means
of at least one image processing program before alphanumeric
characters are extracted. The processing can be, for example, a
filtering, a contrast change, a color change and/or a color
contrast change, wherein the contrast change or the color contrast
change can be a contrast increase or the color contrast increase or
a contrast reduction or the color contrast reduction. It is thus
possible to reduce the error rate in the extraction of the
alphanumeric characters.
[0018] According to one exemplary embodiment, the collected
information is verified in a verification step after the text
recognition. As a result of the verification step it is possible to
decisively reduce the risk that errors occur during text
recognition and that therefore incorrect information is written
into the data structure.
[0019] According to one exemplary embodiment, it is determined in
the verification of the collected information whether the values of
information collected consecutively in time change more than a
predetermined change threshold value. In case that the change
threshold value is exceeded, this can be due to the fact that
incorrect information collection or text recognition has occurred
since the changes are usually below this change threshold
value.
[0020] According to one exemplary embodiment, it is determined by
means of the verification step whether a change in image processing
parameters, in particular a change in parameters of a filtering,
contrast increase, etc., results in a change in the extracted
alphanumeric characters. If such a change in image processing
parameters, in particular a change of small amount, leads to a
significantly different extraction result, it can be assumed that
even small changes in the collection quality lead to erroneous
extraction results.
[0021] According to one exemplary embodiment, a plurality of data
sets is stored in the computer unit in order to collect machine
data from different machine types. Each data set is associated with
one or more machine types and can comprise information for masking
the collected information, for filtering the collected information,
for font and/or font size. It is thus possible to select, depending
on the machine type, the machine data of which shall be collected,
a data set associated with that machine type in order to mask and
further process the collected information.
[0022] According to one exemplary embodiment, a plurality of
different pages, each with different image information, can be
displayed on the graphical user interface, and switching between
the pages is carried out in order to collect the image information
of the different pages. The switching can, in particular, cause the
pages to be scrolled through sequentially in order to make it
possible to collect the information displayed on these pages in
each case as machine data and to process it further when it has
been written into the data structure.
[0023] According to a further aspect, the present disclosure
relates to a system for collecting machine data. The system
comprises a collection unit by means of which image information
displayed on a graphical user interface of a machine can be
collected. A collection unit can be provided, for example, by a
camera or a signal splitter, as described above. In addition, the
system comprises a computer unit which is coupled to the collection
unit and which is designed to receive the information collected by
the collection unit. In this connection, the computer unit is
designed to mask the collected information or information derived
therefrom in order to define data regions, to extract alphanumeric
characters from at least one data region by a text recognition
program, and to write the extracted alphanumeric characters into a
data structure or to output the extracted alphanumeric characters
into a data stream.
[0024] According to one exemplary embodiment of the system, the
computer unit has one or more data input interfaces by means of
which the computer unit can be coupled to one or more collection
units. In the case of multiple data input interfaces, the computer
unit can receive and further process information from graphical
user interfaces of a plurality of machines in parallel.
[0025] According to one exemplary embodiment, the computer unit has
one or more data output interfaces by means of which a data
structure containing alphanumeric characters or a data stream of
alphanumeric characters is output. In this connection, the computer
unit can receive and further process, separated according to
machines in each case, the machine data from such machines at the
data output interfaces or data structures can be output.
Alternatively, it is possible that only one data output interface
is provided and that--if information from graphical user interfaces
of a plurality of machines is received and processed in parallel by
the computer unit--at this data output interface data structures
are output which have a unique identifier, the identifier
indicating to which machine the respective data structure is
assigned. Furthermore, it is also possible that a data structure,
for example a table, contains machine data from different machines,
the machine data on the different machines being distinguishable
from one another, for example, by an arrangement in rows and
columns.
[0026] According to one exemplary embodiment, each data input
interface and each data output interface is associated with one
machine in each case.
[0027] As a result, the information of the individual machines can
be received in parallel at the respective data input interfaces and
the respective data structures assigned to the machines can be
output separately from one another in parallel at the data output
interfaces.
[0028] According to one exemplary embodiment, the computer unit has
a switching interface for providing a switching signal by means of
which switching between pages of the graphical user interface of a
machine is carried out. In this way, the computer unit can cause
switching of the pages and processing of the information displayed
on these pages.
[0029] The expressions "approximately", "substantially" or "about"
mean in the sense of the present disclosure deviations from the
respective exact value by +/-10%, preferably by +/-5% and/or
deviations in the form of changes which are insignificant for the
function.
[0030] Further developments, advantages and possible uses of
embodiments of the present disclosure also result from the
following description of exemplary embodiments and from the
drawings. In this connection, all the features described and/or
illustrated are in principle the subject matter of the present
disclosure, either individually or in any combination, irrespective
of their summary in the claims or their back-reference. The content
of the claims is also made a part of the description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The present disclosure will be explained in more detail
below with reference to the drawings by means of exemplary
embodiments, wherein:
[0032] FIG. 1 shows exemplarily and schematically a first exemplary
embodiment of a system for collecting machine data;
[0033] FIG. 2 shows exemplarily and schematically a second
exemplary embodiment of a system for collecting machine data;
[0034] FIG. 3 shows, by way of example, a block diagram
illustrating the steps of a method for collecting machine data;
[0035] FIG. 4 shows, by way of example, a display on a graphical
user interface comprising a plurality of data regions;
[0036] FIG. 5 shows, by way of example, a plurality of pages of a
display on a graphical user interface; and
[0037] FIG. 6 shows exemplarily and schematically the structure of
a computer unit for processing collected information from a
machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a system for
collecting machine data from a machine 1. The machine 1 can be in
particular a machine tool.
[0039] The machine 1 comprises a graphical user interface 2, via
which machine information is output graphically so that a machine
operator can perceive it visually. The graphical user interface 2
can comprise in particular a display or a monitor.
[0040] The graphical user interface 2 is coupled to a graphical
output interface 6 of the machine 1 e.g. via a corresponding line
connection. The graphical output interface 6 can in particular be
formed by a socket to which an inverse plug of the line connection
can be plugged in order to be able to transmit the information
provided by the graphical output interface 6 to the graphical user
interface 2. The graphical output interface 6 can be, for example,
a VGA interface, an HDMI interface, a DVI interface, or any other
graphics or multimedia interface.
[0041] A signal splitter 8 is provided to collect the image
information displayed on the graphical user interface 2. On the
input side, the signal splitter 8 is connected to the graphical
output interface 6 and has at least two output interfaces, a first
output interface being coupled to the graphical user interface 2
and a second output interface being coupled to a computer unit 3.
This allows the same electrical graphics signals to be received at
the computer unit 3 as are transmitted to the graphical user
interface 2 for display there.
[0042] FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment with regard to FIG.
1, which differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in that it
is not the signal transmitted between the graphical output
interface 6 and the graphical user interface 2 that is split and
the split portion that is transmitted to the computer unit, but
instead it is the display on the graphical user interface 2 that is
recorded by means of a camera 5 and the output signal of this
camera 5 that is transmitted to the computer unit 3. In other
words, therefore, in the embodiment according to FIG. 2, a camera 5
is used as the collection unit instead of a signal splitter 8.
[0043] In the following, the block diagram in FIG. 3 is used to
describe in more detail the method for collecting machine data.
[0044] First, image information which is displayed on a graphical
user interface 2 of a machine 1 is collected (S10). This collection
can be carried out either by directly tapping (see exemplary
embodiment according to FIG. 1) the electrical signal which is
transmitted between a graphical output interface 6 and a graphical
user interface 3, or by optically acquiring the display of the
graphical user interface 2 by means of a camera 5 (see exemplary
embodiment according to FIG. 2) . The collected information is then
transmitted to the computer unit 3. The computer unit 3 is
configured to receive and process the collected information.
[0045] Then, the received data is masked in order to determine at
least one data region in the received data (S11). This masking is
in an embodiment also carried out by the computer unit 3. "Masking"
in the sense of the present disclosure is here understood to mean
that the received information is compared with a data mask, the
data mask defining a plurality of data regions and in an embodiment
indicating which type of data can be found in which data
regions.
[0046] FIG. 4 shows, by way of example, a display on a graphical
user interface 2, by means of which the step of masking the
collected information is described below. The display comprises a
plurality of data regions 4a, 4b, 4c, in the illustrated exemplary
embodiment three data regions. The first data region 4a shows, for
example, the current position of the tool or machining head of the
machine 1 by means of xyz coordinates. The second data region 4b
shows e.g. current velocity values of the tool or the machining
head of the machine 1 along the respective spatial axis (v.sub.x:
velocity along the x-axis, v.sub.y: velocity along the y-axis;
v.sub.z: velocity along the z-axis), and the third data region 4c
shows points in time and the respective events that occurred at
these points in time. It is understood that the described display
content is merely exemplary and the present disclosure is not
limited to a particular display content.
[0047] The data mask, which is in an embodiment associated with a
particular machine 1 and also with a particular page displayed on
the graphical user interface 2, can be used to determine at which
point in the collected information which data content is found. For
example, the data mask associated with the display according to
FIG. 4 contains information that current position data of the tool
or the machining head of the machine 1 is displayed in the first
data region 4a. Furthermore, the data mask can contain information
that the first line of the first data region 4a displays the
x-coordinates of the tool or the machining head, the second line of
the first data region 4a displays the y-coordinates of the tool or
the machining head, and the third line of the first data region 4a
displays the z-coordinates of the tool or the machining head, in
each case in [mm].
[0048] In the same way, the data mask indicates which information
can be found in the data regions 4b and 4c.
[0049] On the basis of the data mask, it is thus possible, after
extracting information, to assign this information to specific data
fields of a data structure to be created. For example, the value
123 mm, which indicates the x-position of the tool or the machining
head at a particular point in time, can be inserted into the data
structure at the corresponding row/column provided for the
x-position values.
[0050] After masking the information, alphanumeric characters are
extracted from at least one data region 4a, 4b, 4c, namely by text
recognition, in particular an OCR program (OCR: optical character
recognition) (S12). In other words, signs or sign strings are
extracted from the image information containing pixels and color
values associated with these pixels, namely in an embodiment on the
basis of the information (e.g., font, font size, etc.) provided by
the respective data mask.
[0051] These extracted alphanumeric characters are then written
into a data structure (S13). This data structure can be e.g. a
table containing data fields which correspond to the data regions
predetermined by the data mask. Further examples of a data
structure can be a text file, a data set of a database, etc.
[0052] The data structure can subsequently be stored, or it can be
output at a data output interface of the computer unit 3.
[0053] During the operation of a machine 1, the image information
displayed on the graphical user interface 2 can change over time.
In order to be able to track this temporal change in the image
information, the image information is continuously collected and
processed by the computer unit 3 as previously described. The
continuous collection can be, for example, a periodic collection
similar to a signal sampling with a fixed or --depending on the
machine program--variably adjustable collection or sampling
frequency.
[0054] In order to improve the extraction result, it can be
necessary to process the collected information before the
extraction step. This processing can be carried out before or after
masking the collected information.
[0055] For example, the processing can include filtering and/or a
contrast modification. In an embodiment, the processing is
performed by means of an image processing program. By processing
the collected information, for example, noise in the image can be
reduced and/or color contrast can be increased. By means of
processing, it is thus possible to process the collected
information for character extraction by the text recognition
program so as to achieve a text recognition with the lowest
possible recognition error rate.
[0056] The displays on the graphical user interface can vary
depending on the machine 1 or the machine type. For example,
different fonts and/or font sizes can be used. In addition, the
display content can vary depending on the machine 1 and/or the
machine type. In order to ensure that masking or text recognition
is carried out in such a way that it is adapted to the respective
machine 1 or machine type, the computer unit can comprise a
plurality of data sets, each data set being assigned to a machine 1
or machine type. Depending on the machine 1 or machine type, the
data set assigned to this machine 1 or machine type can then be
used to carry out adapted masking or character extraction.
[0057] In order to ensure that the extraction of alphanumeric
characters by means of the text recognition program is faultless or
substantially faultless, a verification step can be carried out. In
this verification step, alphanumeric characters which are extracted
one after the other in time, in particular directly one after the
other in time, can be compared with one another and the change in
the alphanumeric characters can be assessed. In particular, the
change in amount of numerical values extracted one after the other
in time, in particular directly one after the other in time, can be
determined and compared with a threshold value. In the event that
the change in amount exceeds the threshold value, it can be
concluded that the extraction was faulty.
[0058] Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to change the
filter characteristics of a filter, by means of which image
processing is carried out, during the verification step and to
check whether a changed extraction result is obtained. If, for
example, even a small change in the filter characteristics results
in a significant change in the extraction result, it can be
concluded that even small changes in the image information also
lead to changes in the extraction result and thus to an incorrect
extraction of alphanumeric characters.
[0059] As a reaction to the verification result, for example,
settings of the image processing program, e.g. filter criteria, can
be changed or the recognition parameters of the text recognition
program can be modified. Another alternative or additional reaction
to the verification result can be to change the resolution of the
graphic image. In this way, for example, a distortion of the
alphanumeric characters, which can result from an interpolation for
resolution adaptation to target system, can be reduced or
completely avoided by correct selection.
[0060] In FIG. 5, multiple pages 7a, 7b, 7c are sketched that can
be displayed on a graphical user interface. For example, a
switching option can be provided in the control software of the
machine 1, by means of which one of these pages 7a, 7b, 7c is
displayed on the graphical user interface depending on the
respective control or verification task of the operating staff of
the machine.
[0061] In order to be able to collect the information displayed on
the respective pages 7a, 7b, 7c, it is advantageous to switch
between the pages 7a, 7b, 7c. In an embodiment, the switching is
carried out in such a way that the pages 7a, 7b, 7c are displayed
in a cyclic cycle, so that the pages 7a, 7b, 7c can be collected
one after the other. The switching of the pages 7a, 7b, 7c is in an
embodiment effected by a switching signal which is provided by the
computer unit 3 and transmitted to the machine 1 or its machine
control system, so that this switching signal triggers the
switching of pages 7a, 7b, 7c.
[0062] In order to allow the user of the machine 1 to view a
particular page on a monitor or display despite the switching of
pages 7a, 7b, 7c, the computer unit can provide a graphical output
interface on which a page 7a, 7b, 7c of the switched pages is
displayed. Depending on the number of switched pages, for example,
only a certain part of the image information received at the
computer unit 3 can be displayed in each case on this monitor or
display, so that from the switched pages 7a, 7b, 7c, for example,
only the image information of page 7a is displayed.
[0063] A further possibility of giving the user of the machine 1
the opportunity to view a particular page on a monitor or display
despite the switching of pages 7a, 7b, 7c is that the automatic
page changes are only carried out when the system is in operating
mode, i.e. an indicator is active according to which it can be
concluded that the machine 1 is in active operation.
[0064] A yet further possibility of allowing the user of the
machine 1 to view a particular page on a monitor or display despite
the switching of the pages 7a, 7b, 7c is that the machine operators
can interrupt the automatic switching for a certain period of time
by an input at a user interface, for example by pressing a key, so
that they themselves can visually check the status of the machine 1
in active operation. After this period has elapsed, automatic
switching is resumed.
[0065] FIG. 6 shows by way of example a computer unit 3, which can
be used in a system for collecting machine data. The computer unit
3 comprises at least one processor 3.4 and a memory unit 3.5. The
processor is configured to mask the collected information and to
extract the alphanumeric characters by a text recognition program.
The memory unit 3.5 is designed to at least temporarily store the
data structure into which the extracted alphanumeric characters are
written.
[0066] The computer unit 3 has at least one, in the illustrated
exemplary embodiment three, data input interfaces 3.1. Each data
input interface 3.1 is designed to be connected to a collection
unit, for example a signal splitter 8 or a camera 5, in order to
receive the information displayed on the graphical user interface
2. The computer unit 3 can have only a single data input interface
3.1 to be able to receive and process information displayed on the
graphical user interface 2 from a single machine 1. Alternatively,
it is possible for the computer unit 3 to have multiple data input
interfaces 3.1 to be able to receive and process information
displayed on the graphical user interface 2 from multiple machines
1.
[0067] In addition, the computer unit 3 comprises at least one, in
the illustrated exemplary embodiment three, data output interfaces
3.2. One data structure each, which contains alphanumeric
characters recognized by the computer unit 3, can be output at
these data output interfaces 3.2. The computer unit 3 can have only
a single data output interface 3.2 in order to be able to output a
data structure associated with a single machine 1. Alternatively,
the computer unit 3 can have a plurality of data output interfaces
3.2 so that it is possible to output data structures which are
assigned to a respective machine 1 in such a way that they are
distributed over a plurality of data output interfaces 3.2.
Furthermore, it is possible that each of the data structures
assigned to different machines 1 has an identifier by means of
which it can be determined to which machine 1 an output data
structure is assigned. It is thus possible to output data
structures assigned to different machines 1 at a single data output
interface 3.2.
[0068] In an embodiment, the computer unit 3 additionally has a
switching interface 3.3. At this switching interface 3.3, the above
described switching signal is provided, by means of which the
switching of the pages 7a, 7b, 7c can be triggered.
[0069] The invention has been described above by means of exemplary
embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes as well as
modifications are possible without leaving the scope of protection
defined by the claims.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0070] 1 machine [0071] 2 graphical user interface [0072] 3
computer unit [0073] 3.1 data input interface [0074] 3.2 data
output interface [0075] 3.3 switching interface [0076] 3.4
processor [0077] 3.5 memory unit [0078] 4a, 4b, 4c data region
[0079] 5 camera [0080] 6 graphical output interface [0081] 7a, 7b,
7c page [0082] 8 signal splitter
* * * * *